I am drifting from country too...and I was country when country wasn't cool. I wish Keith Whitley had lived....I wish George Strait was not an Old Troubadour, and Allen Jackson would play forever. The boy band country....just say no to Rascal Flats....
Sugarland is good, Mary Chapin Carpenter is an amazing songwriter--The best I have ever seen at creating vivid visual imagery with her words & composition skills, Chris Young is a rising country star, Trisha Yearwood is still fantastic, & Travis Tritt skill kicks major butt LIVE IMO
Personally, I like everything I've seen out of Chris Young so far. I will ALWAYS love King George (no matter how old). I'm liking Josh Turner, but right now Eric Church, Brantley Gilbert, and the ZBB are my favorites. (And Johnny Cash will ALWAYS be a hoss!)